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Author Topic: F-104 !!  (Read 1911 times)

Offline Thrawn

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F-104 !!
« Reply #30 on: March 14, 2006, 06:31:53 AM »
Me = Wrong
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Offline RTR

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F-104 !!
« Reply #31 on: March 14, 2006, 07:58:07 AM »
Yep, it originally fired the seat out through the bottom. I believe that once in production it was changed to eject the seat out through the top.

A pretty remarkable aircraft, although not very forgiving. It earned its reputation as the "widowmaker".

RTR
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Offline Hangtime

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F-104 !!
« Reply #32 on: March 14, 2006, 08:54:24 AM »
wasn't supposed to be 'forgiving'. was supposed to be the fastest fighter/interceptor on the planet, not a freakin piper cub.

the single engine/small wing setup + engine failure = world class aww-chit.
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Offline RTR

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F-104 !!
« Reply #33 on: March 14, 2006, 09:05:46 AM »
Don't misread me Hang.

The 104 did its job and did it very well. All I meant by that statement was that from a pilots perspective, when things went wrong, they went wrong quickly. It was a pretty unforgiving aircraft, and often didn't leave many options.

We used to mount the stick on a plaque for those pilots who had to eject from the 104.  One of my CO's had 3 of them.

Not meant to be a criticism, there wasn't an aircraft in the world that could do what the 104 did during its time.

cheers,
RTR
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Offline Nilsen

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F-104 !!
« Reply #34 on: March 14, 2006, 09:10:06 AM »
I belive it was a very good fighter until the germans wanted to put a radar in it or something. That messed up sometihng and they lost many of them. As far as I remeber it was not intended to have a radar when it was designed, but to be guided by ground based radars for its original role.
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Offline Hangtime

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F-104 !!
« Reply #35 on: March 14, 2006, 09:42:59 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by RTR
Don't misread me Hang.

The 104 did its job and did it very well. All I meant by that statement was that from a pilots perspective, when things went wrong, they went wrong quickly. It was a pretty unforgiving aircraft, and often didn't leave many options.

We used to mount the stick on a plaque for those pilots who had to eject from the 104.  One of my CO's had 3 of them.

Not meant to be a criticism, there wasn't an aircraft in the world that could do what the 104 did during its time.

cheers,
RTR


LOL... 3 ejects from 104's!

I take it the guy wasn't real popular among the maintainers. ;)

Considering the radical wing and that the 104 flight control system was all pilot/hydraulic (no computers) I'd call the damn thing a brilliant design to have been flyable at all!

Damn thing was an amazing aircraft; and those that flew it were by simple process of elimination mighty good sticks. ;)
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Offline RTR

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F-104 !!
« Reply #36 on: March 14, 2006, 09:51:13 AM »
LOL Hang!

He was actually a great CO and was very popular with all of us.

I gotta admit though, we think he was maybe getting a bit of a complex about the 104! hehe

cheers,
RTR
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Offline MiloMorai

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F-104 !!
« Reply #37 on: March 14, 2006, 10:30:35 AM »
Heard that if you thought of ejecting it was already too late.

Some guy was decapited while diving by a 104 which was being towed on a road near Trenton when Canada was flying them.

Remember one day one took off from Uplands. Heard the engine then nothing, then an almighty roar and this a/c going vertical till out of sight. Found out later the engine quit but some how the pilot got it re-lite and went AB. Glad he did or I might have had a 104 in the yard (flight path was over the house).
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Offline Maverick

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F-104 !!
« Reply #38 on: March 14, 2006, 10:31:07 AM »
Hangtime,

He might have been WILDLY popular with the maintainers. After all when you have a bird that can't be fixed and counted on to run right, let the "old man" fly her. That will take care of the problem!
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Offline RTR

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F-104 !!
« Reply #39 on: March 14, 2006, 10:44:05 AM »
LOL Maverick!

RTR
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Offline Mustaine

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F-104 !!
« Reply #40 on: March 14, 2006, 11:44:56 AM »
wasn't there one of those at the air museum we went to at the last Con?
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Offline BUG_EAF322

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F-104 !!
« Reply #41 on: March 14, 2006, 12:04:38 PM »


Remembered them as kid when they where still allowed to fly low.
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Offline Squire

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F-104 !!
« Reply #42 on: March 14, 2006, 01:35:37 PM »
Even 4 decades after they first flew it still looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie.

Awesome fighter.
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Offline Furball

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F-104 !!
« Reply #43 on: March 14, 2006, 01:59:50 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by RTR
Not meant to be a criticism, there wasn't an aircraft in the world that could do what the 104 did during its time.

cheers,
RTR


Just out of interest, how did it compare to the Lightning?



Specifications (F.6):
        Engines: Two 13,200-pound thrust Rolls-Royce RA34R afterburning Avon 310 turbojets
        Weight: Empty 28,000 lbs., Max Takeoff 50,000 lbs.
        Wing Span: 34ft. 10in.
        Length: 55ft. 3in.
        Height: 19ft. 7in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed at 40,000 ft: 1,500 mph (Mach 2.3)
            Ceiling: 60,000 ft.
            Range: 800 miles
        Armament:
            * Two 30-mm Aden guns in ventral pack
            * Two Firestreak or Red Top air-to-air missiles, or
              44 50.4-mm (2-inch) rockets, or
              Five Vinteen 360 70-mm cameras and linescan equipment and underwing flares
            * Up to 144 rockets or six 1,000-pound bombs on underwing/overwing hardpoints
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Offline Airscrew

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F-104 !!
« Reply #44 on: March 14, 2006, 03:07:51 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Furball
Just out of interest, how did it compare to the Lightning?

How bout F-104 is definitely better looking than the Lightning:t
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